About Us

Firefighters from Ashe and Watauga Counties were dispatched to a structure fire in the early morning hours today in far eastern Ashe, a fire that totaled a log cabin. The 3:18am call came in as Danny Matkins woke to the ‘popping’ sound of what turned out be the fire in the living room,
then he then ran to a neighbors home to call 9-1-1 as the fire alarm sounded inside. The residence at 2836 Cranberry Springs Road near the Brownwood Road intersection had fire in the living room, arriving Fleetwood Fire units reporting a working fire in the rental home. Fleetwood called for backup from Todd, Deep Gap, and West Jefferson Fire departments, as well as Ashe Rescue, and found no one else in the rental cabin, listed as owned by Ronnie Cooper. Firefighters said there were no injuries in the fire or firefighting effort. Fire Marshal Bob Davis said that, so far, the cause is undetermined, but did start in the living room. He said the Red Cross has been called in to help Danny Matkins, who lost most everything.

Davis said he was still trying to determine the cause of a fire that did heavy damage to a large two-story house in Crumpler Tuesday night. New River and Jefferson firemen responded to 742 Wiley Gambill Road shortly after 8pm to find heavy smoke pouring from the timber frame home. Owner Bill Guy had been in a garage when the alarm sounded, and he ran to a neighbor’s to report the fire, centered in the kitchen. Davis said the cedar sided house may also be a total loss due to heavy smoke damage throughout.